Ours
"First Date"

They have known each other for eight years, eight long years, and yet she couldn't be more nervous if she tried. Obviously this wasn't the first time they have tried to make something more out of their feelings for each other. Having tried for a romantic relationship on more than one occasion, but this just feels different somehow. Like it could actually work this time.

Sitting on her porch swing, the butterflies begin to send her stomach into a complete frenzy with each passing second, bringing the time closer and closer. Tonight will be the night they have their first official date in public. As if first dates aren't bad enough, chances of them running into someone that disapproves is along the lines of ten to one, higher than any other couple, that's for sure.

Cameron is currently at his great-grandmother Audrey's house, a source of support that she literally had not expected, not in the least. Since the moment she and Lucky had become an official item, her Gram's has always been all about them being together. Up until two months ago, her Gram was Lucky's number one supporter that it shocked her profusely when she had switched to supporting Jason. Even before she found out Lucky was an addict atop of being an adulterer.

Her son, of course, can't go without seeing Jason for even a day. In the two months that they have been together, Cameron has done all he can to keep Jason around, for as long as humanly possible. When Jason has no other choice but to leave, Cameron won't let him go until Jason promises that he'll be coming back soon.

These last two months have truly been the best two months of her entire life. Her son is happy and has finally accepted that Lucky's no longer part of their lives. He doesn't even ask for Lucky anymore. Gradually her son has adjusted to life without Lucky and she couldn't be happier. After everything that Lucky has done to them, she says good riddance.

"Jason." she whispers when the sound of a motorcycle breaks the silence, knowing it would be less than a couple minutes before he's outside her house.

In that moment, as she rose to her feet to greet him, Elizabeth felt all her nerves and fears melt away without a second thought. Watching as he walks up the pathway to where she's standing, that addictive smile upon his face, everything inside of her felt right. That this is exactly where her life had been leading her. To this moment, right there, with him.

"Hey." he voices softly as he holds her in his arms. "I missed you."

"I missed you." she replies on a whisper just before his lips take claim to hers.

"I set everything up with Sonny." he assures her as they make their way to his SUV that's parked in the driveway. "He'll only call if its life and death."

"That's surprising." Elizabeth replies as she slides into the passenger's seat. "Agreeing to that must have taken all his strength."

"He turned pale." Jason admits. "I thought he was having a heart attack."

"Remind me to thank him then." Elizabeth turns her gaze to the driver's side as he makes his way around the car and gets in. "So, where are we going?"

"Its a surprise."

She's wasn't sure just how thrilled she was to not know where they were headed, but she accepts that surprises are just something that she has to get used to when it comes to Jason. After all, having him make the choice to be with her had be one of the hugest surprises she has ever lived through. Hearing the words leave his mouth was a shock all its own.

The fact that he had done it in the middle of one of Sonny's family gatherings had been the most shocking of all, but Jason insisted that everyone be there when he made the announcement. The look of determination in his eyes, the firmness of his voice, and his outright body language had told everyone that he wasn't messing around this time. He didn't even wait for Carly to object or for anyone to question about Sam before he took her away from the gathering.

"The No Name?" Elizabeth questions in apt confusion when he removes his hands from her eyes to reveal where he had taken her. "I thought this place was shut down a long time ago."

"It was." he admits, slipping the key into the lock before pushing open the front door. "I bought it a couple years ago. Its been under renovation for the last year and I think its finally ready to be reopened."

"I don't know what to say." she admits as she walks through the door, taking in the decor. "It looks just like I remember it yet completely different."

"I wanted to keep the old look of the place, but a little more people friendly." he explains as he helps her slip out of her jacket. "I think I pulled it off."

"You did." she assures him. "Its bigger and better than it ever was."

"I'm glad you think so." he smiles softly. "Come on. I want to show you the private room."

As he showed her around, Elizabeth could tell that he was really proud of what he had done, this light shining through his eyes as he told her all about it. He told her about having Sonny help him decide what the kitchen would look like. The kind of stoves that would be necessary for all the cooking that will need to be done.

How Sonny nearly fainted when Jason said that a stove's a stove, it didn't matter which they chose. Of course, that comment earned him an hour lecture on the importance of choosing the right kind of stoves. Not that Jason really paid much attention to any of it. He just wanted Sonny to do the choosing in order to avoid an argument later.

"I know this probably isn't what you expected..."

"Its better than what I expected." she assures him, cutting him off by slamming her lips against his. "I had no idea you cared so much about this place."

"Its one of the few neutral places in my world." he says simply. "A place that can't be touched by any violence."

"The appeal is definitely growing on me." she smiles at him as he takes her hand and guides her over to the candlelit dinner. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

"If I've learnt anything about myself, its that I've never been good at letting people in." Jason voices as he pushes in her chair. "I don't want to make that mistake with you again."

"Me either." she agrees, holding up her hand to stop him from denying it. "I've done my fair share of shutting people out. Especially when it comes to you."

"Fair enough."

"Look, Jason, I know that us deciding to be together isn't going to magically fix everything that's ever happened between us." Elizabeth voices with apt seriousness. "But, I also know that I'm willing to work it out with you as long as you're in it with me."

"I'm not going anywhere." he assures her, taking her hand in his. "Never again."

Okay, so, maybe it wasn't the first date in public that she had been expecting, but who is she to complain about a first date of this caliber? For Jason to open up to her about something this close to his heart, Elizabeth had no words to describe just how deeply that affected her. Seeing just how much of himself he's opening up to her, Elizabeth's love for him only continues to grow stronger and stronger, hopeful for the success of their relationship this time around.

As dinner progresses, they find themselves talking about Cameron and the prospect of them having a future together as a family. They talk about the small things, like Cameron's bedtime schedule, his playtime preferences, as well as his favorite shows and movies. After they have touched on almost everything there is to know about Cameron, they move on to their plans for the future. Where they'll live when they decide to finally move in together, knowing its only a matter of time.

By the end of the meal, Jason had her in his arms, swaying to the soft music of the jukebox in the background. It wasn't until after the song ended and he went to put on another song that she recognized the jukebox. It was the one from Kelly's that usually sat just shy of the entrance. Bobbie had mentioned selling it to get a new one, but she never would have guessed that she had sold it Jason.

"I knew how much it meant to you." he voices when he notices her admiring the jukebox. "I didn't want it to be sent to the junkyard."

"The kind of money it must have cost to get it in running condition again..." she shook her head, knowing just how battered the thing was. "It had to have cost you more than its worth."

"We shared our first dance to it." he reminds her. "Given that the moment hadn't been ideal...its still part of our history. As far as I'm concerned, it didn't cost nearly as much as its worth."

"First the bridge and now this..." she couldn't find the words to describe all she was feeling in that moment.

"The past is just as important as the future ahead of us." he says simply. "You taught me that."

As his arms went to circle around her once again, her eyes slowly shut in anticipation of his lips gently touching hers for the initial embrace of his kiss. Always starting the same way, gentle and seeking before the passion implodes within them both, sending them into a hungry battle for dominance and submission, their kisses always leave her with a burning desire for more. More of him. More of them. More of everything.

From the newly refurbished No Name to her bedroom, their deliciously addictive song and dance takes on a new tune as he explores every inch of her transforming abdomen. Now four months along, she finds that he takes extra precautions whenever they're together. Taking on a slow, gentle, touch as opposed to the night that they had conceived the life inside of her.

"You okay?" he voices as they come down from their bout of ecstasy. "I didn't hurt you did I?"

"You never do." she assures him as his hand moves to rest upon her abdomen. "You're always so good to me, Jason, even when I don't deserve it."

"That sentiment goes both ways." he replies lovingly. "I couldn't possibly repay you for all you've done for me."

"Say you'll stay tonight." she says hopefully, meeting his eyes with complete seriousness. "Cameron will be home in the morning and we can have a family breakfast...the four of us. What do you say?"

"With an offer that tempting, who am I to refuse?"